rls@ihu1g.UUCP (r.l. schieve) (10/28/85)
My 1982 Honda GL500 has started leaking fluid out of the boot around the rear mono-shock/spring. This is the single spring with pneumatic assist in front of the rear tire. It seems to get worse when the temp gets below freezing so I believe a seal must be shrinking. Has anyone had any experience servicing one of these? I do most of my own service but if it takes $200 in special tools I would rather get it done. If I can do it myself right or wrong I only have myself to blame. Any comments? Rick Schieve ...ihnp4!ihu1g!rls
marauder@fluke.UUCP (Bill Landsborough) (10/31/85)
In article <723@ihu1g.UUCP> rls@ihu1g.UUCP (r.l. schieve) writes: >My 1982 Honda GL500 has started leaking fluid out of the boot >around the rear mono-shock/spring. This is the single spring >with pneumatic assist in front of the rear tire. It seems to >get worse when the temp gets below freezing so I believe a seal >must be shrinking. > >Has anyone had any experience servicing one of these? I do most >of my own service but if it takes $200 in special tools I would >rather get it done. If I can do it myself right or wrong I only >have myself to blame. Any comments? > > Rick Schieve I rebuilt a Yamaha Monoshock one time in '76 and it was not too difficult. As I recall the only "special tools" that I needed was a spanner wrench to unscrew the first end cap. There were a couple of snap rings which required snap ring pliers of course, but other than that I think you will have no major problems. You do know of course to bleed off the nitrogen pressure before popping the thing open. They contain about 300 psi. And when you get it rebuilt, you will have to take it to the dealer to pressurize it unless you have a nitrogen tank handy... The important thing is to do it soon. A leaking shock indicates something is wrong and to expect the unexpected. When my YZ400 shock went, I was going over a jump and the shock separated and blew oil all over. Then when I came down there was no shock, only two pieces and the rear fender crashed down onto the rear tire and I had an exciting time stopping and then getting back to our camp.
gt@hpfcla.UUCP (11/02/85)
>>/***** hpfcmt:net.cycle / ihu1g!rls / 7:21 am Oct 28, 1985*/ >>My 1982 Honda GL500 has started leaking fluid out of the boot >>around the rear mono-shock/spring. This is the single spring >>with pneumatic assist in front of the rear tire. It seems to >>get worse when the temp gets below freezing so I believe a seal >>must be shrinking. >> >>Has anyone had any experience servicing one of these? I do most >>of my own service but if it takes $200 in special tools I would >>rather get it done. If I can do it myself right or wrong I only >>have myself to blame. Any comments? >> >> Rick Schieve >> ...ihnp4!ihu1g!rls >>/* ---------- */ Most OEM rear single shocks are throw aways. Save the spring and order a good aftermarket shock from someone like FOX or Ohlins if they make one for your bike. George Tatge
grego@athena.UUCP (Grego Sanguinetti) (11/02/85)
> My 1982 Honda GL500 has started leaking fluid out of the boot > around the rear mono-shock/spring. This is the single spring > with pneumatic assist in front of the rear tire. It seems to > get worse when the temp gets below freezing so I believe a seal > must be shrinking. > > Has anyone had any experience servicing one of these? I do most > of my own service but if it takes $200 in special tools I would > rather get it done. If I can do it myself right or wrong I only > have myself to blame. Any comments? > > Rick Schieve > ...ihnp4!ihu1g!rls The rear wheel and suspension are no sweat to dissasemble provided you have sockets to fit some of the larger nuts. The shock seal could be a problem. If it is a factory unit with more than a year of duty, I would replace it with an aftermarket unit. Fox and Works Performance both make very good remote reservoir shocks. If you really want to replace the seal, if possible, then make sure you have a big vice securely bolted to your worktable. You'll need a shock spring compressor for the mono-shock's spring. Does it even have a spring or is it the air bag only design? If it is the later then replace it, you won't regret it. G.S. ...ucbvax!tektronix!teklds!grego